Hit-and-run suspect, 21, has spotty driving past

The man implicated in a woman’s death turns himself in

The driver in a fatal hit-and-run on Nimitz Highway had pending traffic violations, including a DUI and two speeding citations, when he allegedly struck and killed an 86-year-old woman Tuesday.

Jatios Jatios, 21, turned himself in Thursday after police issued a plea to the driver of the crash that killed Betty Santiago of Wahiawa. He was released pending investigation after being booked for suspicion of negligent homicide and fleeing the scene of an accident.

On Jan. 10, a week before the incident, Jatios was to appear for a hearing in Honolulu District Court for going 53 mph in a 35 mph zone and having no car insurance on Dec. 8, but he never showed up.

According to traffic records, Jatios was also cited on Christmas Day for driving under the influence, having no insurance and disobeying a traffic signal. He faces a hearing in Honolulu District Court on Thursday for that case.

On Nov. 23, Jatios was cited for going 83 mph in a 55 mph zone and having no car insurance. He was driving the same car that he allegedly was driving when Santiago was killed. A hearing in that case was held Dec. 21, but court records do not indicate the result of the hearing. His traffic abstract indicates the matter remains unresolved.

Santiago was attempting to cross Nimitz Highway near the Iwilei Kmart in a crosswalk when Jatios allegedly swerved behind cars that had stopped for her and struck her.

The car believed to have been involved in the crash was found later in Waipahu.